Dugher slames Government as report shows 3rd of Yorkshire childr

Barnsley East MP and Labour shadow cabinet minister Michael Dugher has slammed the Government for standing up for the wrong people as a Save the Children report shows a third of Yorkshire and Humber children are growing up in poverty.

The report published today shows around 300,000 children in the region are regularly missing hot meals, going without decent footwear or winter coats, or seeing their parents go without food in order to feed them.

Michael Dugher said:

"It's shocking that so many children in Yorkshire and the Humber are living in poverty. Labour cut child poverty by 900,000, but the Tory-led Government's own estimates predict that it is set to increase again. George Osborne's last Budget cut taxes for millionaires, but found nothing new to fight child poverty.

"With our economy now in a double dip recession made in Downing Street, this tells you everything you need to know about the wrong choices this Government is making."

And Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary was scathing of the impact the government's welfare policies are having on child poverty.

Liam Byrne said:

"Today’s report highlights the terrible consequences for our country’s children caused by chaotic decisions at the Department of Work and Pensions which has now cut tax credits so hard that thousands of families are better off on benefits than in work. In fact Tax Credit changes now mean some households with children could end up £728 a year better off if they quit their jobs. That is simply wrong.

"We were promised a welfare revolution but all we’ve got is chaos and delay."